In Les Miserables, directed by Bille August, forgiveness and mercy towards even the most undeserving characters motivates them to take a brighter path in life.
Definition:
Compassion towards an undeserving enemy or offender
Theme Analysis:
In Les Miserables, the characters show mercy on many occasions. In the beginning, Jean ValJean is a recently released criminal, and even after the Bishop trusts him to sleep and eat in his home unwatched, he still steals. However, the Bishop shows ultimate form of mercy, and gets him out of trouble, giving him the candlesticks as well. This act awakens something in ValJean, as he sees the good in humanity, and he becomes a "new man" (August), no longer resorting to crime. ValJean continues to show mercy to others, spreading good similar to what he received himself. When he discovered Fantine's fate, he did not consider the danger of getting on the inspector's bad side, he knew he had to help her, which Javert did not agree with. As ValJean boldly states his forgiveness for her, Javert argues that he doesn't "have the right" (August) to forgive her. Javert believes only in the law, but mercy often goes against what the law states. ValJean realizes that the law is too harsh at times, and does not account for all circumstances, and he knows that a person will benefit more from being shown mercy than being thrown in prison, which is why he also forgives Javert himself. Javert believes he must be "punished" (August), but ValJean refuses twice. Even after being relentlessly hunted for a minor crime, ValJean would rather be imprisoned than kill his tormenter, because he knows the power of mercy, and he hopes that Javert can change. However, Javert's philosophy is so deeply ingrained that even as part of him is changed, allowing him to save ValJean, the other part still believes he cannot break the rules, leading to his death as the change overflows within him.
In the occasions where mercy is not shown, the outcome is only misery. Javert is incapable of showing misery in the beginning of the film, because he is too focused on following rules, so when he comes across Fantine struggling, he cares only about what the law says. He gets her away from the men attacking her not to help, but to throw her in jail. When ValJean asks for two days of freedom to go retrieve Cosette so that Fantine will be able to see her before she dies, Javert has yet to be changed by anyone showing him mercy, and so he continues to follow the rules to the letter, knowing that allowing a prisoner to leave is not acceptable. Because his character was not shown mercy, he had a lack of understanding for it so deep that he was incapable of comprehending it when he finally experienced it. Because it took so long, he was too set in the ways of the law to change completely, so while his morals improved, he could not stand against the horror of himself breaking a law, and so when he did his first and only act of mercy for ValJean, it destroyed him.
Symbol:
Silver Candlesticks
The first instance in Les Miserables where there was mercy allowing for transformation, was when Bishop Myrial allowed him to take his silver. ValJean was imprisoned in front of him, ready for punishment, when not only was he freed, Myrial gave him aid, paying for his new start on life with silver candlesticks. The Bishop believes in ValJean's ability to become a "better man" (August), and so he sacrifices part of his own wealth to begin ValJean's change away from "Fear and hatred" (August), and towards God and religion. The silver ValJean retrieved through deceit did not allow his transformation, only when he experienced the extent of the Bishop's faith in him with the addition of the candlesticks did he truly change his path.
Connection to ATOTC:
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens shows how, similar to in Les Miserables, showing or being shown mercy transforms the characters. Dr. Manette had endured countless cruelties in his time in jail and the weeks leading up to it, by the hands of the Evremonde family. When Charles Darnay finally revealed his connection to them, Dr. Manette became "Deadly pale" (Dickens 186), but he did not reveal him to Lucie or anyone else. However much he suffered, he forgave Darnay for the acts of his father and uncle, and left his secret safe. Even when Darnay was placed in jail and on trial, Dr. Manette could have let him die without lifting a finger to help, but he showed mercy and did what he could to get him released, showing how far he came from when he was imprisoned, wishing for the end of their "bad race" (Dickens 317). He transformed from the broken man he was, and his ability to show mercy proved how much he changed for the better.
Connections Elsewhere:
In Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, the main character, Pip, treats his father figure, Joe, as if he is ashamed of him for his lack of manners and education. He also neglects Biddy, who is always there for him during times of hardship. Even as he severs their connection for many years, when he gets sick, Joe is the first one to offer to care for him during his sickness, and as Pip begins to understand that social class is not everything, he attempts to reconnect with both characters. Their love for him allows them to move past his horrid treatment of them, even if Pip does not deserve the forgiveness. Also, even though Miss Havisham uses Pip as a tool to test her daughter Estella's ability to break mens' hearts, near the end of the novel she begs Pip to have show her mercy and forgive her for her awful behavior, and Pip does, and saves her from the fire that would have killed her otherwise.
In the Harry Potter series, Dumbledore constantly shows mercy to the other characters. He has a constant belief in the ability to redeem oneself. In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Dumbledore knows that Draco Malfoy has allied with evil and been tasked with killing him. However, he knows that Draco can still return to the good side, so he works to avoid him becoming a murderer. He is not worries about his death, or the events that lead up to it, he only wishes to spare an undeserving boy from the life of evil.
The Warrior Heir
In The Warrior Heir, by Cinda Williams Chima, two teenagers, Jack and Ellen, are forced into a duel where one of them is expected to die. Neither of them are willing, but both have been trained and they must follow the tradition that has been set forth for thousands of years. However, when they are on the battlefield, and Ellen has the opportunity to kill Jack and win, she continuously shows mercy and allows him to live. While winning would get her everything, she shows him mercy and refuses, ending the tournament.
M e r c y
In Les Miserables, directed by Bille August, forgiveness and mercy towards even the most undeserving characters motivates them to take a brighter path in life.Definition:
Compassion towards an undeserving enemy or offenderTheme Analysis:
In Les Miserables, the characters show mercy on many occasions. In the beginning, Jean ValJean is a recently released criminal, and even after the Bishop trusts him to sleep and eat in his home unwatched, he still steals. However, the Bishop shows ultimate form of mercy, and gets him out of trouble, giving him the candlesticks as well. This act awakens something in ValJean, as he sees the good in humanity, and he becomes a "new man" (August), no longer resorting to crime. ValJean continues to show mercy to others, spreading good similar to what he received himself. When he discovered Fantine's fate, he did not consider the danger of getting on the inspector's bad side, he knew he had to help her, which Javert did not agree with. As ValJean boldly states his forgiveness for her, Javert argues that he doesn't "have the right" (August) to forgive her. Javert believes only in the law, but mercy often goes against what the law states. ValJean realizes that the law is too harsh at times, and does not account for all circumstances, and he knows that a person will benefit more from being shown mercy than being thrown in prison, which is why he also forgives Javert himself. Javert believes he must be "punished" (August), but ValJean refuses twice. Even after being relentlessly hunted for a minor crime, ValJean would rather be imprisoned than kill his tormenter, because he knows the power of mercy, and he hopes that Javert can change. However, Javert's philosophy is so deeply ingrained that even as part of him is changed, allowing him to save ValJean, the other part still believes he cannot break the rules, leading to his death as the change overflows within him.
In the occasions where mercy is not shown, the outcome is only misery. Javert is incapable of showing misery in the beginning of the film, because he is too focused on following rules, so when he comes across Fantine struggling, he cares only about what the law says. He gets her away from the men attacking her not to help, but to throw her in jail. When ValJean asks for two days of freedom to go retrieve Cosette so that Fantine will be able to see her before she dies, Javert has yet to be changed by anyone showing him mercy, and so he continues to follow the rules to the letter, knowing that allowing a prisoner to leave is not acceptable. Because his character was not shown mercy, he had a lack of understanding for it so deep that he was incapable of comprehending it when he finally experienced it. Because it took so long, he was too set in the ways of the law to change completely, so while his morals improved, he could not stand against the horror of himself breaking a law, and so when he did his first and only act of mercy for ValJean, it destroyed him.
Symbol:
Silver Candlesticks
The first instance in Les Miserables where there was mercy allowing for transformation, was when Bishop Myrial allowed him to take his silver. ValJean was imprisoned in front of him, ready for punishment, when not only was he freed, Myrial gave him aid, paying for his new start on life with silver candlesticks. The Bishop believes in ValJean's ability to become a "better man" (August), and so he sacrifices part of his own wealth to begin ValJean's change away from "Fear and hatred" (August), and towards God and religion. The silver ValJean retrieved through deceit did not allow his transformation, only when he experienced the extent of the Bishop's faith in him with the addition of the candlesticks did he truly change his path.Connection to ATOTC:
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens shows how, similar to in Les Miserables, showing or being shown mercy transforms the characters. Dr. Manette had endured countless cruelties in his time in jail and the weeks leading up to it, by the hands of the Evremonde family. When Charles Darnay finally revealed his connection to them, Dr. Manette became "Deadly pale" (Dickens 186), but he did not reveal him to Lucie or anyone else. However much he suffered, he forgave Darnay for the acts of his father and uncle, and left his secret safe. Even when Darnay was placed in jail and on trial, Dr. Manette could have let him die without lifting a finger to help, but he showed mercy and did what he could to get him released, showing how far he came from when he was imprisoned, wishing for the end of their "bad race" (Dickens 317). He transformed from the broken man he was, and his ability to show mercy proved how much he changed for the better.
Connections Elsewhere:
In Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, the main character, Pip, treats his father figure, Joe, as if he is ashamed of him for his lack of manners and education. He also neglects Biddy, who is always there for him during times of hardship. Even as he severs their connection for many years, when he gets sick, Joe is the first one to offer to care for him during his sickness, and as Pip begins to understand that social class is not everything, he attempts to reconnect with both characters. Their love for him allows them to move past his horrid treatment of them, even if Pip does not deserve the forgiveness. Also, even though Miss Havisham uses Pip as a tool to test her daughter Estella's ability to break mens' hearts, near the end of the novel she begs Pip to have show her mercy and forgive her for her awful behavior, and Pip does, and saves her from the fire that would have killed her otherwise.
In the Harry Potter series, Dumbledore constantly shows mercy to the other characters. He has a constant belief in the ability to redeem oneself. In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Dumbledore knows that Draco Malfoy has allied with evil and been tasked with killing him. However, he knows that Draco can still return to the good side, so he works to avoid him becoming a murderer. He is not worries about his death, or the events that lead up to it, he only wishes to spare an undeserving boy from the life of evil.
The Warrior Heir
In The Warrior Heir, by Cinda Williams Chima, two teenagers, Jack and Ellen, are forced into a duel where one of them is expected to die. Neither of them are willing, but both have been trained and they must follow the tradition that has been set forth for thousands of years. However, when they are on the battlefield, and Ellen has the opportunity to kill Jack and win, she continuously shows mercy and allows him to live. While winning would get her everything, she shows him mercy and refuses, ending the tournament.
"The law is harsh, but it is the law"